MANILA(PNA) - There are certain things that shouldn’t happen. One, for instance, shouldn’t light a cigarette while filling gas in his tank at a service station or drive under the influence.

For former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Manny Pacquiao’s handlers shouldn’t allow the Filipino boxing icon to fight four months after suffering from a devastating knockout loss to Mexican idol Juan Manuel Marquez last December 8.

Erap, in joining host of others who expressed the same sentiment, appealed to those who manage Pacquiao’s boxing career to take it easy and allow the eight-division belt owner to fully recover from the worst defeat of his fighting life.

“Pati naman si Manny ay tinatawagan ko ng pansin. Huwag siyang magmadaling lumabang muli para iganti ang kanyang pagkatalo. (He should not be in a hurry to fight again to avenge his loss.) There are still many fights before he decides eventually hand his gloves. Relax lang muna,” Estrada told this writer in a chance interview last Thursday.

“Me, I believe he can bounce back from that loss. Matapang si Manny, may dugong tunay na Pilipino. Walang kinatatakutan,” Erap averred with pride in his eyes. “He has done a lot of good things para sa bansa at sa salitang Pilipino. He is now the face of our nation. Wherever you go if pag nalaman ng mga dayuhan na Pilipino ka, si Manny agad ang iispin nila.”

Erap, in whose term as the country’s Chief Executive the Sports Hall of Fame law was approved and the bill creating the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Law , was filed by then Sen. Robert Jaworski, local basketball’s living legend, Pacquiao can do many things more to help alleviate the living conditions of poor Filipinos.

“Marami kang talent. Tulad ko, pogi ka rin, he… he … joke lang. Kidding aside, I believe in your capacity to do things to help our kababayan. Kongresista ka na at baka maging senador, bise president at Pangulo. Keep up the good works,” the former President said.

“As I said, Manny should choose those who to listen to from among his many so-called friends and allies,” he said. “Losing via knockout is one of the worst things that can happen to a boxer. At mas masakit ang matalong muli pagkatapos ma- KO. Huwag naman sana nilang gawin ang ganoon sa kanya para lamang kumita.”